Asparagus slicing and dicing machine



L. D. STOPPEI.

ASPARAGUS SLICING AND DICING MACHINE INVENTOR ATTRNEY iL; D. STOPPEL AsPARAGUs; :sLIcING AND DIcING MACHINE Filed May 21 1924 2 Smeets-Sham` 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 21, 1924.

UNITED stare A T l LOUISD. STOPPEL, OF ISLETON, CALIFORNIA.

ASPARAGUS SLICING AND DICING MACHINE.

Application mea May 21, 1924, serial No. 714,825.

To all whomz't may concern: Y

Be it known that I, Louis D. STOPPEL, residing at Isleton, in the county of Sacramento and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Asparagus Slicing and Dicing Machines, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to an asparagus slicing and dicing machine in which vertically revolving knives and horizontal revolving knives operate upon asparagus in such a manner as to remove the outer peeling and cut the same into cubes.

It has been the custom heretofore, to cut the tough portions of the asparagus from the tender portions, discard the so-called butts and can the tips. It has been found that by removing the lpeeling around the butts, the inside portion thereof can be used for various purposes including the making of soups. The present invention includes a machine designed and constructed to both remove the outer skin of the asparagus butts and cut the same into cubes, thereby rendering them suitable for eating purposes.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine of novel design and construction adapted to remove the skin from the tough portions of asparagus stems, and cut them into'cubes. L

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the type just characterized, which said machine is adapted to render the heretofore discarded portions of asparagus stems, suitable for eating purposes.

In the drawings accompanying this specification:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the asparagus slicing machine;

Fig.- 2 is a side elevation view of the same; Y

Fig. 3 is an end view of the slicing unit of the machine taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;V

Fig. 4 is a detail view taken on the line 4 4" of Fig; 2, showing the vertical revolving knives and the means used for operating volving knives vand the operating means used therefor.

The drawings show two slicing units, each i operated bythe same means, and bothf' mounted on a common frame in such a manner that the driving pulleys and belts come on the inside of the machine and away from the side on which the operator stands.

Generally stated the invention consists of a conveyor onto which the asparagus butts are fed by hand, a set of knives which re- Y move the skin from two sides'thereof, a separate set of knives which remove the skin from the two other'sides, anda means for cutting the squared butts into cubes.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents mounted. A chain 3 is associated with each the chain with their projections extending outwardly at intervals of approximately seven inches. The chains 3 with the lugs attached thereto move over sprockets 5 and 6. Sprockets 5 are driving sprockets, and 6 are idlers. The chains serve as conveyors for the asparagus butts which are fed thereon by hand, and the lugs serve to force the said butts into connection with the knives. The sprockets 5 and@ are lfastened to shafts 7 and 7 respectively and these shafts revolve on bearings 8. 0n one end of shaft 7 is fitted a pulley 9 which receives its power through a belt 10 that is operated by any suitable means such as a motor. On shaft sheer, and suitable lugs 4 are attached to i 7 is fitted another pulley 11, which together i' with sprocket 5 and chain 8 aremoved by said shaft 7. Belt 12 runs from pulley 11 to another pulley 13 which is integrally connected with pulley 14, both being securely fastened to shaft 1 5. The belt 12 driving the pulley 13 revolves the shaft 15 onA which is fitted a pair of vertical knives 16 of approximately siX inches in diameter. The direction of rotation ot the knives 16 the same as the direction ot travel of the chain 3, and the peripheral speed ot knives 16 greater than the lineal speed o1'l chain Shaft 15, on which pulleys 13 and 11?; and knives 16 are fastened, revolves in bearings 1T that fastened to plates 2. There is a suitable opening' in plates 2 for the projection or1 knives 16. The openings in the said plates are so arranged that the asparagus butts are moved along on chain 3 and pushed through the aperture betiveen knives 16 by lugs fl, and are cut by said knives in such a manner that the skin on tivo sides is removed. The removed skin or peeling dropsthrough a hole 18 in the table. l3etween the knives 16, is located a spring clip 19, the function ot vwhich is to engage the asparagus butts passing between knives 16, prevent the same from adhering to the said knives, and to disengage the butts from the knives and cause them to continue riding on chains 3 by the pressure o' lugs 4 against them. ritthis point the asparagus butts are traveling between tivo guides, located back to back and designated as 20. The asparagus butts ride through these guides until they reach contact with knives 2l, which said knives are at an angle ot degrees With reference to knives 16. Pulley 13, as has been stated, is revolving because of the power transferred to it through belt 15, and pulley 141-, being intgerally connected uf'ith pulley 13, is also revolving. Belt 22 connects pulley lll with pulley 28 which Yis 'fastened to shaft 2Lion which. knives 21 16 revolve,

vided for knives 21, which said clip operates against knives 21 as does clip 19 opwith .knives 16. fit this point, the ree crate maining tivo sides ot the asparagus butt are peeled, and the peel leaves the butt and travels oli" through trough 26, the butts continuingv throucl guides 20. A belt 2?, opcrates over pulleys 26 and 29, the 'former bein(r idle pulley attached to sha-lt 30 in beari 31. Pulley 2,9 is driving pulley attached to shatt l/lifooden guides 33, are located outside belt 27. The peeled asparagus butts leaves the slicing machine through guides 26 and locate on belt 27. ln order to aroperly cube or dice the aspar'a gus butts 27, t right les to the same, so .hair brushes 34- are provided on 33, and their Yfunction is to secure the right positions be 'tore they arrive at knives rlhe knives 35 are similar to the other knives in construction, and are separated by a space suitable to properly cut the asparagus into cubes.` The belts and pulleys oit the` cubing or dicing unit receive their power through tiey should lie; across the belt.

pulley 36, which is connected to shaft 32. Pulley 3T is located on shaft 32 and connects ivith pulley 38 by means of a suitable belt, so as to rotate knives 35 Which are at taclied to shaft 39. The asparagus butts .liter passing over pulley 29 and upon be ing cubed or diced, drop into a suitable receptacle.

' .ving described my invention, Whatl claim is:

1. [in asparagus slicing and dicing machine comprising a traine, a pair ot sprocket Wheels revolulolyv secured to the frame, chain having thereon projecting lugs, located on and connecting saidwheels, a pair of vertical revolving knives attached to said trame, a pair ot horizontal revolving knives attached to said trame,- a means consisting` ot a series ot pulleys and belts for driving said chain and knives., a pair of pulleys attached to the rear end otsaid trame, a belt located on said pulleys, a pair of revolving knives attachedlto said frame at the rear end ther-eciE adjacent to said last named belt`r and a meansifor operating said last namel belt and knives.

2. in asparagus slicing and dioing machine comprising a trame, a pair of vertical revolving knives vand a pair ot vhorizontal revolving` knives secured to said trame, a means comprising an endless chain tor conveying asparagus butts to said knives, and a means for operating said. knives and chain.

FS. ,au asoaragus slicing and dicing machine comp ising a trame, a pair of vertical revolving knives and pair ont horizontal revolving knives located on said trarne, a means for conveying asparagus butts to said knives consisting of an endless chain attached on a pair of sprocket Wheels, a means for operating said knives and chain, a separate set oit vertical revolving` knives attached to the rear end ot said trame, a belt Vtor carrying said asparagus butts to' said last named knives, and a means for operating said belt and knives.

ln amachine ot the class described, comprising a pair ol" vertical revolving` knives, a means for delivering rasparagus stems to said knives, pair of horizontal revolving knives, a means 'for delivering asparagus butts to said horizontal knives andA .means associated with said knives for operating them,

5. ln a machine ot the class described comprising a pair of vertical revolving knives and a pair ot horizontal revolving knives for removing the skin from asparagus butts,l another pair of vertical revolving knives tor cutting the asparagus butts into cubes and a means tor operating said knives.

6. ln a machine ot the class described comprising in combination with anendless ot vertical revolving knives and a pair oi?` horizontal revolving knives for removing the skin from said asparagus butts conveyed to them by said chain, and a means for operating said chain and said knives.

7. In a machine of the class described comprising in combination With a frame, a chain attached to sprocket Wheels located on said frame, a set of vertical revolving knives and a set of horizontal revolving knives attached to said frame, a means v10- cated on said frame for operating said chain and knives and another set of vertical revolving knives located on said frame at the rear thereof and a separate means for 0p'- erating said last mentioned knives.

kLoUis D. sroPPnL. 

